There were so many incrediblehorror moviesreleased in 2024 that it was impossible to see them all, and many may have fallen under viewers’ radars. While releases likeLonglegs,The Substance, andThe First Omenwere hard to miss, plenty ofstreaming exclusives horrorsor smaller-scale releases were highly underrepresented and did not get enough credit for the quality of the work. As a year filled with strange and unusual scary movies, 2024 had plenty to offer beyond the biggest box office successes.
There were severalhorror movies in 2024that could become future cult classics as more viewers discover them and catch up on this year’s releases. Those who have been paying close attention will have been following the hype ofbeloved releases likeI Saw the TV Glow, but not everyone has been tuned in to these kinds of word-of-mouth successes. From franchise releases to standalone triumphs,there are plenty of great horror movies for viewers to sink their teeth into from 2024.
Daddy’s Head
Cast
Daddy’s Head: A psychological thriller revolving around a boy and his stepmother who begin to fear for their safety after encountering a mysterious entity that resembles the boy’s recently deceased father. The film explores themes of grief, identity, and the supernatural.
The horror streaming service Shudder has been quietly building up an impressive catalog of underappreciated scary movies in recent years. One of the best from 2024 wasDaddy’s Head, a thoughtful exploration of grief that brought to mind the extraordinary power of the modern classicThe Babadookfrom years before.Daddy’s Headtells the story of a recently widowed stepmother left to look after her husband’s child after he died in a car crash, but this difficult situation then turns sinister as a strange creature begins haunting them.
WhileDaddy’s Headaddressed familiar themes of grief, heartache, and despair, it did so with stylish cinematography and high production values that helped it stand out. As the monster at the heart of the story represents the manifestation of real trauma and buried feelings, this supernatural tale was all the more effective due to the emotions at the center of its narrative. While this clever British psychological horror didn’t break any new ground thematically, it still made for engaging and unnerving viewing.
Strange Darling
A twisted one-night stand spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse when a relentless predator chases an injured woman through the Oregon wilderness.
From the producer ofBarbarianandLate Night with the Devil,Strange Darlingwas a jaw-dropping serial killer storythat defies expectations. What starts as a one-night stand soon turns into a thrilling game of cat and mouse as a man pursues a woman in rural Oregon.Strange Darlingis divided into six chapters told in a non-linear order that’s simultaneously a dark love story and a cautionary tale about those who prey on female trust and vulnerability.
A truly wild ride from start to finish,Strange Darlingcontinues director JT Mollner’s streak of making stylish and thoughtful films that address the darkest sides of the American psyche and was a worthy follow-up to his debut Western,Outlaws and Angels. With plenty of suspenseful sequences, exciting twists, and beautiful cinematography,Strange Darlingwas shot on 35 mm film and its visuals were just as breathtaking as its narrative was shocking.
V/H/S/Beyond
V/H/S/Beyond is the seventh entry in the long-running horror anthology series. V/H/S/Beyond is a collection of six different horror shorts with their own creative teams. Unlike other entries in the V/H/S franchise, V/H/S/Beyond focuses on horror that leans into sci-fi.
The anthology horror franchiseV/H/Shas introduced countless scary movie lovers to a vast array of incredible directors, and the latest installment,V/H/S/Beyond, is no different. As just one in a series of found-footage horrors centered on disturbing VHS tapes that are discovered by innocent viewers,V/H/S/Beyondincluded five separate shorts linked together by a sixth frame narrative. With a mix of sci-fi and horror, this installment brings together everything from aliens to dog-human hybrids.
From the first-person-shooter style ofStorkto the UFO story seen inStowaway, this wasa worthy addition to the sprawling and unique world of theV/H/Sseries. Some familiar faces were also involved, such as Justin Long’s animal rights sequenceFur Babies, which he co-wrote and directed with his brother Christian and which feels like it was inspired by Long’s outrageous role in Kevin Smith’s horror movieTusk. Overall,V/H/S/Beyondcontinued this franchise’s tradition of embracing the weird and unusual and was well worth watching for those who may have missed it.
I Saw the TV Glow
I Saw the TV Glow follows teenager Owen, who navigates suburban life until introduced by classmate Maddy to a mysterious late-night TV show.
While those tuned into the modern horror movie industry will be well aware ofI Saw the TV Glow, it may have fallen under the radar for the casual viewer. Written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun and co-produced by Emma Stone,I Saw the TV Glowwas a deeply psychological coming-of-age storythat leaned into nostalgia as high school students connect over their love of a television series. As the lines between fact and fiction blend,I Saw the TV Glowhad its characters questioning their reality as their identities became intrinsically linked with the media they love.
10 Great Lo-Fi Horror Movies Like I Saw The TV Glow
Lo-fi horror movies such as I Saw the TV Glow are characterized by dreamlike visuals, bizarre narratives, and chilling slow-burn dread.
With a distinctive visual style and narrative that viewers will emotionally connect with,I Saw the TV Glowhad plenty of horror elements but could be enjoyed on many different levels. There are interesting characters and an impressive amount of worldbuilding in this strange and idiosyncratic story. While Schoenbrun has made several films before this,I Saw the TV Glowhas received significant buzz, and its underground success and word-of-mouth hype have led to it gaining widespread acclaim from those in the know.
Abigail
Abigail is a 2024 horror thriller directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The plot follows a group of people who kidnap the daughter of a dangerous crime lord only to discover that the little girl is actually a vicious vampire out for blood. Alisha Weir stars as the titular character alongside Kathryn Newton, Melissa Barrera, and Dan Stevens.
It’s exciting to see how vampire movies have had something of a revival in recent years, such as Nicolas Cage’s turn as Count Dracula inRenfieldor the 2024 adaptation of Stephen King’sSalem’s Lot. However, the best vampire movie that might have flown under some viewers' radar wasAbigail. This comedy horror began with a group of kidnappers abducting the child of a powerful underworld figure with plans to hold her ransom for $50 million, only to soon discover that Abigail was anything but helpless.
The plot ofAbigailis turned completely on its head as Abigail’s supernatural powers are revealed, and it is the kidnappers who are forced to fight for their lives in a thrilling story of survival. With a strong ensemble cast and plenty of twists and turns,Abigailwas as fun as a horror movie could be while still delivering genuine scares. WhileAbigaildid well at the box office, the success of franchise movies likeAlien: RomulusorA Quiet Place: Day Onegreatly overshadowed it.
Lisa Frankenstein
Lisa Frankenstein is a comedic fantasy-horror film by first-time director Zelda Williams and is a twist on the classic Frankenstein formula. Set in 1989, a high school outcast named Lisa accidentally revives a handsome corpse from the Victorian era and resolves to rebuild him into the perfect man.
It took several years for writer Diablo Cody’s feminist cult horror classicJennifer’s Bodyto gain the delayed appreciation it deserved, and one can only hope the same fate doesn’t befallLisa Frankenstein. This hilarious comedy horror was set in the same universe asJennifer’s Bodyand told the story of a teenage girl falling in love with a reanimated Victorian-era corpse. WithKathryn Newton as Lisa and Cole Sprouse as The Creature, this affectionate callback to 1980s teen horrors made for highly entertaining viewing.
WhileLisa Frankensteinbegan as a spoof horror, it was elevated by themes of trauma and survival, which helped envelop its campy story in weightier themes. With strong performance and a unique sense of style,Lisa Frankensteinwas an erratic yet emotional journey that could very well become a future cult classic. From director Zelda Williams,Lisa Frankensteinwas a hilarious “coming of rage” story that was just plain fun.
It’s What’s Inside
It’s What’s Inside is a film centered around a high-stakes narrative involving complex character dynamics that explore internal and external conflicts. Throughout the storyline, characters face personal challenges as they navigate their intertwined fates, providing a gripping view of their struggles and transformations.
It’s What’s Insidewas a Netflix comedy horror that delved into truly trippy territory as its chaotic plot descended into absolute chaos. What starts as a group of friends coming together for a pre-wedding party soon turns into an existential nightmare as an estranged friend arrives with a mysterious game that unlocks long-dormant secrets and unspoken grudges. With equal parts comedy, horror, and sci-fi,It’s What’s Insidewas a cleverly constructed and stylish journey into the party from Hell.
What was supposed to be a normal night among friends became a true existential nightmare when a game that allowed the attendees to switch bodies with one another was introduced. This highly psychological concept became increasingly disarming as it became difficult to find out which characters were in each other’s bodies from one scene to the next. WithFreaky Friday-style fun wrapped up in a horrifying package,It’s What’s Insidewas one of the strangest movies of the year.
Exhuma
When a renowned shaman (KIM Go-Eun) and her protégé (Lee Do-hyun) are hired by a wealthy, enigmatic family, they begin investigating the cause of a disturbing supernatural illness that affects only the first-born children of each generation. With the help of a knowledgeable mortician (YOO Hai-jin) and the country’s most revered geomancer (CHOI Min-sik), they soon trace the affliction’s origin to a long-hidden family grave located on sacred ground.
South Korean director Jang Jae-hyun once again proves his country’s talent for producing thoughtful, introspective, and truly unnerving horror films withExhuma. This tense story blends mystery and the occult as the excavating of an ominous grave unleashes sinister energy upon a wealthy family. With a vengeful spirit haunting their ancestors,Exhumaaddresses cultural and historical themes in a creepy, gory, and incredibly atmospheric manner.
With a talented cast of well-known South Korean actors,Exhumablendsshamanism and shameas the dark secrets within the coffin are both mystical and mysterious. With two separate arcs that see great changes in its villain throughout,Exhumawas a surprising and engaging 2024 horror film that fell under a lot of viewers' radars. While some Western audiences are reluctant to check out subtitled movies, this South Korean horror was well worth giving a chance.
MadS
After taking a new drug, a young man named Romain picks up a mysterious, injured woman who begins behaving erratically and violently in his car. As his night spirals into chaos, Romain struggles to distinguish between the effects of the drug and the terrifying reality unfolding around him.
Filmed in one terrifying continuous shot,MadSdeserves to reach a much larger audience, as its technical prowess and horrifying hellscape make for intensely eerie viewing. As a story of an apocalyptic outbreak offast-moving zombies,MadSis a fast-paced and well-crafted horrorthat effectively unfolds over its swift 86-minute runtime. With a privileged and unsympathetic protagonist (Milton Riche), his partying and debauchery-filled lifestyle becomes the least of his worries when he’s thrust into an unspeakable nightmare as the world descends into madness.
MadSwas packed with violent imagery but also feeds on the fear of the unknown, as the one-take style of this film keeps viewers on the edge of their seats throughout. With a small cast of relatively unknown actors,MadShas to rely on the effectiveness of its imagery and the horror of its story rather than star recognition to reel viewers in. With plenty of room left for interpretation,MadSallows viewers to fill in the gaps of the outbreak for themselves with an underlying subtext around excessive wealth and the hedonism of affluent young people.
Oddity
Grieving her twin sister’s brutal murder, blind medium Darcy uses a wooden mannequin from her curio shop to uncover the truth. As she navigates the eerie world of the supernatural, Darcy must confront dark secrets and malevolent forces tied to her sister’s untimely death.
Following up Irish director Damian McCarthy’s acclaimed directorial debut,Caveat,Oddityis a clever and well-crafted ghost storythat is characterized by an elegant and spooky atmosphere. As the story of a woman still reeling from the brutal murder of her twin sister, a blind medium and a wooden mannequin become central to unpacking this dark and unnerving mystery. With a title that perfectly represents this film’s strange energy,Odditywas a little-known Irish release that showcased the country’s often underappreciated talent for telling spooky stories.
As a kind of old-fashioned ghost story that brings to mind classics of its genre,Odditybegan with a strong opening scene that hooked viewers right from the start. With a modest box office take of just over $1.5 million,Odditydidn’t reach a large global audience upon release but will surely become a hidden favorite for those lucky enough to discover it. It’s indie movies likeOdditythat keep thehorrorindustry interesting, so it’s well worth viewers seeking it out to show their support.
